41 Lothbury

One Shell Plaza

2001 Ross Avenue

Baker Botts LLP - The Who's Who Legal 100 2014

Baker Botts hired 18 partners over the course of 2013 expanding the firm’s expertise in practice areas such as government contracts, power and M&A.

BAKER BOTTS

Arbitration

6

Franchise

3

Asset Recovery

1

Investigations

4

Aviation

1

Life Sciences

3

Business Crime Defence

3

M&A

8

Capital Markets

1

Mining

2

Commercial Litigation

3

Patents

3

Competition

7

Product Liability Defence

3

Corporate Governance

2

Project Finance

6

Energy

21

Real Estate

2

Environment

8

Trade & Customs

1

While the firm has established footholds in jurisdictions in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America, the firm’s reputation in Texas is “second to none”, earning it our Texas law firm of the year award once again. Baker Botts further strengthens its international presence through its network of alliances including Lex Mundi and the Pacific Rim Advisory Council. With lawyers renowned for their “in-depth industry knowledge”, particularly in the energy and oil and gas sectors, the firm maintains its leading status across the globe.

KEY FACTS

Total Listings in WWL

88

Established

1840

Home jurisdiction

US

Total size of firm

727

Number of partners

285

Number of offices

15

PEOPLE AND PRACTICES

The “outstanding” energy team is renowned for its expertise and experience in hubs including China, the Middle East, Russia, London and Houston. Lawyers represent a variety of clients including producers, processors, transporters and distributors and partake in both transactional and litigation work. Hugh Tucker heads the oil and gas practice from the Houston office. Praised as a “fine lawyer”, his practice concentrates on complex commercial transactions in the energy sector. Kevin Keenan is an “expert” in maritime matters with extensive experience in the negotiation and construction of LNG tankers. Thomas Moore has an “excellent reputation” and has played a key role in energy assignments worldwide. Jennifer Smith is a “star” litigator and arbitrator and frequently represents clients in energy-related disputes. UAE-based Sean Korney is “top notch”, with the majority of his work focused on the Middle East and Africa. He works on all aspects of the energy chain from exploration to consumption. The “talented” Sofia Sattarova is highly reputed for her negotiating, drafting and advising capabilities with regard to commercial arrangements in the resources field. In DC, Steven Miles chairs the energy sector group. His “impressive” project development and finance practice focuses on the LNG, natural gas electric power and renewable energy industries. Hamish McArdle’s London-based practice focuses on UK and international energy and resource acquisitions and projects.

The firm’s environment practice also has a “stellar” international reputation. William Bumpers is a “very fine” lawyer based in the DC office and is the head of the firm’s global climate change practice. He focuses on the regulatory, litigation and transactional side of environmental projects. In Austin, Pamela Giblin is a “very strong” practitioner specialising in the area of air quality. The “superb” Molly Cagle handles disputes relating to water supply and utility issues, and also handles cases before the US Environmental Protection Agency. In Houston, Matthew Kuryla has a “highly respected” environmental practice. He represents clients before state and federal courts as well as advising on regulatory matters and in alternative dispute resolution.

Baker Botts’s M&A practice comprises more than 100 lawyers who have handled US and international M&A transactions spanning industry sectors and ranging from small to billion-dollar values. David Kirkland is “one of the best” lawyers in Texas and chairs the corporate practice. He has been involved in a number of high-profile energy transactions including CenterPoint Energy Inc in the formation of a midstream joint venture with assets worth over $11 billion. Theodore Paris is an “excellent” practitioner with wide-ranging experience in negotiated acquisitions and dispositions, tender offers and public spin-off transactions. James DeMent Jr concentrates on international commercial transactions and joint ventures in the energy, transportation and telecommunications sectors.

Aside from its long-standing work in the development and financing of energy projects, the finance team has also participated in all types of project finance transactions. The team advises clients ranging from borrowers and sponsors to commercial banks and underwriters. Maura Goldstein represents sponsors, investors and lenders on the financing of energy, transportation and other infrastructure projects across the globe. In New York, Martin Toulouse is a “standout” practitioner. He represents financial institutions and corporations in all areas of private finance.

PRO BONO

Each year Baker Botts’ lawyers provide thousands of hours of pro bono legal services. Particular cases that the firm counts among its proudest moments of 2013 include helping a pro bono client obtain permanent residence status following an application for divorce and petition to have the condition removed on her permanent residency under the USCIS’s Battered Spouse Waiver. The Houston office assisted a client in preparing a successful self-petition for permanent residence under the Violence Against Women Act. Along with trial and transaction work, the firm is also involved in educational initiatives including the annual Invention Convention based in Texas.

DIVERSITY

With a commitment to fostering diversity in the firm and the legal profession more generally, Baker Botts partners with and supports a number of relevant organisations, including the Minority Corporate Counsel Association and the National Hispanic Bar Association. The firm’s diversity committee supervises a variety of initiatives promoting equal opportunities and strong working relationships between lawyers of all races, sexual orientation, disability status and parental status.

LOOKING FORWARD

Having made several changes to the management team both in the US and at its global offices in the past 12 months, Baker Botts strives to remain at the forefront of the legal market. With increasing international visibility, the firm will continue to make key strategic hires to bolster its expertise in the leading industry sectors of tomorrow.

Nominees have been selected based upon comprehensive, independent survey work with both general counsel and private practice lawyers worldwide. Only specialists who have met independent international research criteria are listed.